Bijela Holidays

Bijela has spent a long time dodging the spotlight, which makes it a proper slice of make-up-free Montenegro. It’s a no frills sort of place, with winding traditional streets that stock family-run restaurants and diddy shops. And because it’s hemmed in by the Bay of Kotor’s cloud-nudging hills, there’s peace and quiet by the bucketload.

The neighbouring bay has a namesake city that’s worth a gander. Hop in a car, and in three quarters of an hour you’ll be in Kotor. It’s got tonnes of tourist-ready strings to its bow – we’re talking ancient fortifications, modern shopping strips and a maze-like old town that boasts bars and museums.

Bijela’s pièce de résistance is its seafront plot, on the lip of the Bay of Kotor. This inlet’s squirrelled away from the Adriatic Sea by a few chunky headlands, so it’s low on the decibel meter. Plus, the lofty mountains fill the viewfinder when you look out from the town’s dinky beaches. Follow the wiggly trails inland, which are big hits with cyclists and walkers, and you’ll get an even better angle.